Steam-valve for radiators



(No Model.)

J. L. JUDGE. STEAM VALVE FOR RADIATORS.

N0. 556,421. Patented Mar. 17,18 96.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. JUDGE, OF MIIAVAUKEE, IVISCONSIN.

STEAM-VALVE FOR RADIATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,421, dated March 17, 1896. Application filed March 8,1895. Serial No. 541,024. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, JAMES L. JUDGE, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of l/Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Valves for Radiators, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in steam-valves of the class that is especially adapted for use with radiators in a system of steam-heating in buildings. In this class of valves it is desirable to have the valve and all joints made steam-tight by and through metal bearings, thereby avoiding the use of packing or stuffing composed of organic material, either vegetable or animal,which is too readily and quickly destroyed by the action of the steam or too soon wears out to be desirable for such purposes; also, in valves in which the bearings are of metal it is desirable to so construct them that they at all times close the valve aperture or ports and make the joints connected therewith steam-tight, notwithstanding the expansion or wear of the parts, which may be unequal in extent and if unprovided against would permit leakage or escape of the steam.

Having in view the foregoing desirable purposes and others incidental thereto, my invention consists of the device and its parts and their combinations, as hereinafter described and claimed, or their equivalents.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a case in which my improved valve is formed, with the stem and handle of the valve therewith also in elevation. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of my improved valve. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the valve on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, the under sides of the valve segments or sectors being at the front in elevation. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the valve on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking toward the left. Fig. 5 exhibits the inner side or back of the disassembled valve-sectors.

In the drawings, is the shell or case in which the valve-chamber is located. The specific form of this shell or case is not material; but a convenient form is such a one as Ihave shown in the drawings, in which there is an inlet-port 11, located at the side of the chamber, and an outlet or discharge port 12, located at one end of the chamber. The walls of these ports are screw-threaded for connecting steam-pipes therewith. The end of the case opposite the port 12 is closed bya cap 13, which for convenience is screw-threaded and turns thereby into the case 10. There is a partition let across the chamber just in front of" the port 12, which partition is provided with apertures 15 15, preferably segmental or secto r-like in form. Only two such apertures are preferably provided; but three or even more may be provided. The inner surface of the partition is planed or ground, thus providing a smooth even flat surface 16 as and for a valve seat or seats.

To satisfactorily close the apertures 15, I

provide a valve consisting of leaves or sectors 17 17 preferably in segmental or sector form, each sector having a part or hub 18, which hubs overlap each other and through which concentrically therewith the stem 19 passes loosely. The outer surface of each of these sectors 17, or at least a margin 20 thereof, is smooth and even, being thereby made to rest and fit steam-tight movably on the surface or valve-seat 16. Each of these sectors 17 is provided with a laterally-extending recessed or socketed projection 21. Arms 23 fixed to and projecting radially from the stem 19, one above each sector, are each provided with a finger 22 extending toward the sector, the extremity of which finger enters the recess or socket in the projection 21 movably, the construction being adapted to swing the sectors to right or left with the arms when oscillated by means of the stem 19. The stem 19 is footed in the partition 14:, and is provided with a collar or annular boss 24:, the outer surface of which is preferably conical and is ground and fitted steam-tight into the aperture or seat in the cap 13, about the aperture through which the stem 19 passes, thereby forming a metalclosed steam-tight joint between the stem and cap, the construction being also such as to prevent the movement of the stem endwise outwardly through the cap 13. Springs 25 coiled about the fingers 22 are interposed between and bear respectively against the arm 23 and the sectors 17, thereby holding the sector-valves yieldingly and movably to their Pins 26, inserted in the projections 21 seats.

and through elongated apertures therefor in the fingers 22, prevent the sectors from escaping from the fingers when the stem and sectors are being placed in position or removed from the case. The stenrl!) is provided with a crank-handle 27, whereby the valve can be opened or closed by swinging the handle to position opposite the points indicated by open and shut on the case.

It will be understood that normally the steam entering at the port 11 will act against and close the sector-valves tight over the apertures 15 when they are opposite thereto, and that also the springs 25 acting against these sectors will hold them individually close to their respective valve-seats; also, it will be understood that as the valve-seats or valves themselves are abraded or worn, even though the wearing be unequal, and especially when, as is common with oscillating fiat valves, the parts that are most distant from the axis and that have the greatest travel are most worn, still because of the independent and special construction of the sectors these sectors will severally adjust themselves to such conditions, and will under the action of the springs close the valveports steam-tight.

It will also be understood that the valve-apertures are opened and closed by oscillating the stem 19 through and by means of the swinging of the arms 23 thereon, the fingers 22 fixed in the cross-head carrying the sectorvalves around with them, thereby opening or closing the apertures.

It should also be understood that all the parts of this valve and its case are constructed of metal, and preferably of brass.

A pin 28, fixed in and projecting laterally from the stem 19, engages stops 29 on the cap 13, and thereby limits the oscillation of the stem and the valve-sectors.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is-

1. In a steam-valve, the combination with a case having valve-apertures therein and a fiat smooth valve-seat, of a stem or post journaled without endwise movement in the case near the valve-apertures, flat smooth valves one for each aperture resting and movable on the seat, fingers carried on the post which fingers are connected adjustably to and are adapted to actuate the valves, and springs about the fingers interposed between the valves and a relatively unyielding bearing adapted to hold the valves adjustably up to their work, substantially as described.

2. 111 a steam-valve, the combination with a case, a plurality of valve-apertures therein arranged about an axis, fiat valve-seats in a plane surface about the axis, independent valves one for each aperture pivoted to swing about the axis on the fiat seats, a stem or post revoluble without endwise movement j ournaled in said axis, arms on the post, actuating-fingers projecting from the arms and connected adj ustably with the valves, and springs interposed between the valves and the arms adapted to hold the valves to their work, sub stantially as described.

3. In a steam-valve, the combination with a valve-case and valve-seats on a plane surface about apertures therethrough, of a plurality of flat-faced valves movable on the fiat seats, a stem or post journaled in the case at a right angle to the plane surface of the valveseats, a cone-shaped collar on the stem seated in the case opposite the valves and forming a steam-tight movable joint and preventing the movement of the stem endwise in that direction, arms on the stem provided with valve-actuating fingers connected adj ustably to the valves, and springs interposed between the valves and the arms adapted to hold the valves to their seats and to hold the conical collar on the stem to its seat, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of witnesses.

JAMES L. JUDGE. Vitnesses FRANK FINNEGAN, CLEMENT S. STACY, W. D. STACY. 

